Page 117 of Sin With Me

I’m going to kill that bastard!

“Where is it?” he asked as soon as he descended, looking around.

“In the burial vaults,” Annasaid.

“How did you move the stone?” Mateo asked.

“I was angry. I… I don’t know where the energy came from, but I moved the lid with my hands.”

Mateo lowered the machine gun against the wall and came to the vault near where I was lying on the ground. Concealed in the darkness, I remained flat on the cold soil, watching him from below, waiting for Mike to make the same move towards the other vault so that we could take them out at the same time. Mike remained at Kate’s side with the gun at her ribs. I didn’t know how much longer patience would keep me on this floor, but I was down to the last seconds of its strength.

Just as the vault’s lid gave to Mateo’s push, Father John unexpectedly launched himself at Mike. They both fell to the ground, and we no longer had a choice. Mateo turned in the blink of an eye and reached straight for the machine gun at the wall just as my brother pushed the concrete further open. I struck Mateo in the knee and then his chest, and he fell backward into the vault. My brother pushed the lid closed again, sealing off his screams. Mateo’s desperate cries for help were muffled, but I had no time to pay attention tohim.

The crypt echoed with yelling, chaos, and the sound of a gun goingoff.

No, no, no!

I assessed the situation. Without night vision, Mike was blind – until he lit a flare and threw it in between the vaults. Father John was sitting against one of the walls, holding on to his stomach.

“Whoever the fuck is there, if you don’t stop, I will kill her.” Mike was holding a gun to Kate’s head. She was down on the ground and appeared barely conscious.

“Mikey, you don’t have to do this,” Anna begged. “You’re a good man, I know youare.”

But he didn’tmove.

“Don’t hurt her. I’m coming out,” I said. “Just don’t hurther.”

I raised my hands first and slowly stoodup.

“Cameron?” I heard Kate’s voice.

“Mikey, please let her go,” Anna asked again.

“I’ve been working my ass off for this payout.” He tightened his grip aroundKate.

“Life is not about money. It’s about care, compassion, and love,” she replied. “I’m sorry that we failed you. I’m so sorry that we didn’t realize you were alive when you were stolen fromus.”

“Get me out of here!” We heard Mateo, but no one paid attention.

“It’s a little bit late for a lecture about life, Mother.”

“It’s never too late, Mikey. I know you have it in you. I know you’re a good man,” she repeated.

“Stop calling me Mikey!” he screamed.

“Look, you can take your money – just let them go.” I stepped between the two vaults and over a smaller one that was supposed to belong to Kate’s brother.

“I don’t know who the fuck you are, Mr. Knight in Shining Armor, but this is family business.”

“I am family,” I replied.

He turned his gun on me and took a shot. I moved to the side at the last second, avoiding the bullet in my chest, but it struck me in the shoulder.

“Mikey, please!” Anna cried. “Haven’t they hurt us enough?”

“Aaron?” he called out, but didn’t get a reply. “Who else ishere?”

“It’s just me, okay? You let them go. I’ll stay if you need help and everyone will be happy.”

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